Post-practice interviews

First and foremost, I don’t know what you’ve read or where you read it, but when John Tortorella told the Rangers to get off the ice after a brief up-tempo practice, it was in a very positive tone … he liked the way they went through a quick workout, felt they moved past whatever they were feeling off Game 4, and didn’t need them to show him anymore.

It ABSOLUTELY WAS NOT done in anger, or because he was unhappy with anything. Just sayin’.

Also sayin’ there were about 9,000 media clowns in the lockerroom today, so the audio I got is pretty limited. Hope to put up some printed transcripts later.

And Tortorella was pretty good at the podium today, when asked about what he can do to get his top six scorers going, he said, “Pray.”

What no 1:00 Saturday game on June 9th? I was hoping that the NYC NBC affiliate would do 4 hours of Belmont pre race so people in their viewing area COULD NOT WATCH THE GAME.

Yes this happened in Baltimore. WBAL in Baltimore did coverage of the preakness from 1:00 till 6:30 where they compared hats, did tarot card readings, showed the weather, and all the drunks in the infield.

I was all over the WBAL facebook page as were many other Rangers and Devils fans in the area. The only explanation we got was National NBC would not allow them to air the game on their other station, WBAL+. Luckily I have a slingbox set up in the NYC area so I was able to watch the game, but i was furious.

I wonder if that would have happened if the Capitals were still in it.

this series is wide open, can go either way easily in 6 or 7. Lundqvist (as always..sigh) will have to be the Rangers best player and will have to steal at least one game probably with a shutout for the rangers to have a shot

Carp are you still sticking with Rangers in 6? Also, as each game is its own beast, why do people keep harping on how the Devils played the past four games. Tomorrow’s game has nothing to do with the previous four.

Should’ve pause posting…
It is not like heat become more intense, the closer we are to SC Finals, what keep me out of the kitchen, it was rather unbearable amount of cockroaches which came out from the all slots and holes, with their irrelevant but stinky sounds. Obviously unbeknownst that knowledge (including hockey) is not just transmitted by sex.

Additionally, EVERY team has a bad game or two (look at last year’s Bruins and even Tampa in 04). While the Rangers are not dynamic offensively, wouldn’t you all take their defense and goalie in a best of three series?

I said at the beginning that the Rangers would win this in 7 and I still believe that. They don’t have the offensive firepower to dominate an opponent, but they have the goalie that will be the difference in the series.

It seems odd hoping for a 10-goal scorer to come back, but I think if Dubi can make it back during this series it will make a difference. Sit Rupp or Mitchell (doesn’t matter which) he’ll make the third/fourth line more competitive.

Zucc, I don’t know. I don’t see Torts having confidence in Zucc enough to put him in this series or the next even if he is medically ready.

Yes. Agreed. However, the Devils cannot play any better than they have and the series is still 2-2. I am just saying that anyone who thinks this series is over (from either side) is celebrating a bit too soon.

What will it take to get the five goals in one game Gaborik on the ice? He’s had some really good shifts throughout the playoffs but he’s been almost invisible this entire series and for long stretches in general. Just imagine how dangerous this team would be if they could score some goals.

Whatever happened in the previous four games has no impact on what will happen in the next three. All the Rangers should know is they haven’t played their best yet. And they still have 2 home games left. Nobody said this one would be easy, and I do not believe they underestimated the Devils. I fully expect tomorrow to be their best game in this series so far. *NO MOMENTUM*, *NO FATIGUE*

Carp, you’re right about the noise in the room. It sounded like someone was drilling a root canal when Hank was talking.

Well, Jimbo, it was promoted as an evening of being able to interact with Rangers alumni (VBK, graves and Beuke). However, the only people who were able to interact with them were the full season ticket holders who were allowed to skate on the ice for 1 hour prior to the viewing party. The rest of the fans were in the stands. There was NO interaction between the alumni and the fans. Contrary to what was promoted, there were no games or prizes. Indeed, the only prizes given out seemed to be pre-determined and awarded to the full season ticket holders. Further, they put the game on the Gardenvision, but it was difficult to see. There was hardly, if any food available. Th garden would not let people go into the 300’s (where they would be able to see the game better). The viewing parties at the Ziefield Theater (though smaller) were a lot more fun. I do not believe there was any more than 5,000 people there last night.

No problem, Jimbo. Yeah, it seemed to really fly under the radar. I was looking forward to getting some autographs from the alumni as I became a fan during the 89-90 season when I was about 12-13 years old. Also, they conducted the event as if a real game was taking place on the ice. John Amirante was even performing the anthem live. My wife (who is a casual fan) looked at me like I was crazy for even going….

Let’s stay positive. The way this team has played and conducted itself, they deserve our unconditional support. Remember, this is not like 94, where based upon the age of some vets, it was a one-shot deal. The Rangers will only get better (though win or lose addign some more offensive talent, if possible wouldn’t hurt)

Should one just let an oak tree grow out of a fosythia bush? Isn’t it metaphorical of the magic that ranger d and goaltending has transformed this team? I say I let it grow unabated until the cup comes up broadway…..next month.

Just a couple of observations on last nite… Is it really our game plan to MAKE Marty play the puck on every dump in? Sure looked like it- virtually no soft dump ins to the trapezoid- maybe Torts feels he’s vunerable- not arguing, just asking… Didn’t really like the manufactured drama in the third period by us- because I thought it signified a coach that is worried about his teams “compete level” due to fatigue… That first goal really killed us- because it was such a crappy goal- because the Devils had gone quite a while without scoring- because it made us sag (prior to the goal nothing much of anything really happened, except a number of icings)- because the Devils knew they wouldn’t be shutout again… Hard to decide which is worse: losing to the Devils or having to watch the game(win or lose) on NBC-brutal, embarrassing coverage. Here’s hoping the future holds an option for pay-per-view different feeds…. I thought the Rangers were out of gas BEFORE the playoffs started- so I’m certainly not going there again….Please, please shoot the puck at Marty- if we ever got as many good chances in a game as the Devils do “I predict the Rangers are gonna fill the net tonite, Marv.” Ah, where’s the Big Whistle when you need him?

Speaking of optimism…I myself am a scared optimist, with kind of optimism – when you’re not washing the dishes tonight, hoping that you’ll be more wishful to do that next morning…but optimist nevertheless.

Oh I am an optimist through and through. Besides these guys have been clutch all year. I lost it game five against Ottawa game six against the caps and last night. I doubted them. I never have up on them. And tomorrow I will be there full throat rooting them On. And they will win. Because this season every time the doubt crept in they gave. The disaster in at Louis….the miracle in Phoenix. Marty shuts us out 1-0 at the garden….henrik shuts them out 2-0 the next time they meet a week later. No reason to lose faith. Start strong. Get the first goal. And tomorrow will be the kings third shut out of the series.

Do you think we could get all of the fans on ice level near the goal to hold up burgers and pizza while Marty is at their end of the ice? Maybe trow an occasional slice on the ice? Might get him off of his game.

*Excellent* idea, Rangers West – it would be even better if fans could manage to get food aromas past the glass and into the rink area where Fatso is tending goal – it would distract him so totally that some of our non-productive forwards might even be able to put the puck past him.

Hell, with enough food smells piped into his area, we could even score on icings!

But, ilb, (thinking about CCCP),
do you agree, that there is no one high-minded, sublime, cleanest and brightest thought in existence, which any Russian speaking human couldn’t express in a dirtiest, meanest cursing form. An Art, or bad, but funny habit?

Lol we stand behind 408. I go with a season ticket holder whose seats are in the last row. I am not allowed to sit. I will need binocs to see your section but the devils will hear all of us nonetheless.

OK, Tiki – I also have an understanding with cats, but that doesn’t mean that they will let me eat their food! The ones I’m familiar with even swat at their compadres occasionally when their food is being eaten… ;-)

hahaha, Jimbo. I was trying to say that Im one of them, meaning Im an animal too. :)

Seriously, though, when I first got my girl Tiki from the shelter, she was abused and didnt eat her food. So I was worried she’d be malnourished and get sick, so Id put her food in my mouth, put my saliva on it, and then put it in her bowl, and she’d eat. Thats how I first got her to eat food. Yipppeee!! See, Im an animal.

PBR. I had seats in 412 last row.The renovation screwed up my view long story short they moved me downstairs this season.Next year I will be back upstairs with my blueseat brothers.Except it will now be called sec 221.Lets Go Rangers

408 crew claim they invented tge banned “larry” chant.”. Funny they all love the guy and hang with him before the game. As I understand it the bleak years the 408!guys would take out their frustrations on Larry who felt compelled to dance despite the impending losses. It all got blown out of proportion but everyone understands it to be a bit inappropriate and frankly offensive. Oh well.
Dainus hubrus it will be when boyler runs him into next week at the garden tomorrow! Bring it!!

Obviously if you define momentum as guaranteeing victory in the next game then of course there is none.

But in the true sense of the word there absolutely is momentum in this series. You don’t think the Devils are carrying the confidence edge they have from playing the way they’re playing into the next game, win or lose?

Of course it doesn’t mean they autmoatically win the next game. But in terms of establishing and maintaning a pattern, a confidence, and edge, how can you say that doesn’t exist in this series?

I’m sure it’s been said before but I don’t have the time to reread all the comments from the very beginning of today: I know the Rangers haven’t won 2 consecutive games in what will be more than 11 games come tomorrow….. but can they at least win 2 PERIODS in row?!!!!

Not sure if anyone else is even interested in this or not, but here are stats (from last 3 seasons unless significant injury…then a 4th season) and salaries for the potential top 6 forward candidates this off season…so who should we try and get??

“The Rangers won 51 games, won the East, reached the Eastern Conference final, are two wins from the Cup finals and six wins from the Stanley Cup, despite having only five or six players who are any good at all, and a goalie, and a dolt for a coach. Now I get it.”

Bout time you got it, Carp. But make that a ‘sometimes dolt’ for a coach.

They wouldn’t be in the semis without Torts, but he still loves to sabotage his own team at critical moments. Like when he benched Kreider, now clearly his best & most consistent offensive performer. Or last year, when he voted to demote Zuc and make Matt Gilroy a forward! Or should he keep Zuccarello in the press box for Game 5 while his team gets one decent scoring chance every period and a half.

Because we must grind grind grind, even when we can’t.

You might remember I was villified here for daring to suggest this team had little to no offense, called all sorts of names. Guess I’m still crazy.

Except here’s that same coach now ‘praying for offense’ in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Semis.

I don’t think anyone deserved a suspension from last night’s game for anything at anytime at all during the entire game. However I just saw this from a poster on a NYP article about the lack of suspensions stemming from the game. It involves the “slashing”call on Kovalchuk for the spear. I checked my copy of the rule book and it’s spot on. I thought the Rangers got the benefit of a huge amount of non-calls last night even considering the amount they were called for. But missing the spearing call is inexcusable. I’m guessing they didn’t call it spearing because of all the extras that come with it. Read on:

All please read NHL Rule 62 on “Spearing”.
Rule 62 – Spearing.

62.1 Spearing – Spearing shall mean stabbing an opponent with the point of the stick blade, whether contact is made or not.

62.2 Double-minor Penalty – A double-minor penalty will be imposed on a player who spears an opponent and does not make contact.

62.3 Major Penalty – A major penalty shall be imposed on a player who spears an opponent (see 62.5).

62.4 Match Penalty – A match penalty shall be imposed on a player who injures an opponent as a result of a spear.

62.5 Game Misconduct Penalty – Whenever a major penalty is assessed for spearing, a game misconduct penalty must also be imposed.

62.6 Fines and Suspensions – There are no specified fines or suspensions for spearing, however, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion (refer to Rule 28).

It just ticks me off that we don’t seem to be able to get free enough to pepper Fatso with a lot of shots on goal – he has not looked very steady, and I’m sure that if we could get some shots on him that he would give up some goals. He sits back there in the “rocking chair” with very little pressure put on him, and all his shills idolize him when he may only need to make 15 easy saves in a game.

Exactly, Matty! If Richter and Fatso were swapped early in their careers, Richter would be the one with all the NHL goaltender records now – he probably would have won a ton of cups with those trapping bastages in front of him..

No doubt. And I’ll tell you, Jimbo, I have been to the first 2 home games. Brodeur is so much weaker then Henrik, it’s silly. All we have to do …just have to do….all we have to doooo…is shoot the puck and bet in front.

He is not total swiss cheese, but he has many holes. We can so beat this guy.

Do you know how many times our porous, offensive rushing defense would let look out shots go by them…..

“Hey Mike….LOOKOUT”

His knees must be replaced already. Instead, Fatty still hasn’t broken a sweat.

Think of this…remember last year when MacLean was coach early in the season. He tried to open up the Devils? What was Marty’s goals against average then? Huh? He was losing games 5, 6 goals given up. THE SYSTEM made the man.

Marty is at the end of the string – you can tell by all the “whale flopping” he does now – he was a very good goalie back in the day, but the ultra-defensive style of the team he played for had an *enormous* effect on his career statistics.

Matty, it has been obvious to all (except for the professional shills like Resch) as to which goalie is the better one in this series – Hank has had to stand on his head to keep us in games, and Maaaarty has just needed to plop his fat lump of a body between the pipes.

It was funny how the fawning reporters in the interview room after the game last night were congratulating DaBore for “figuring out Lundquist” early in the game for the first goal – all because a shot that weaved its way through the legs of half the players on the ice managed to elude a hopelessly screened Hank – that was sure some master strategy!

Are the only reporters that are Debbie fans (like the azzwipes in the Twitter feed above) get to ask questions of DaBore?

Wow, what an officiating debacle …or… just another night of NHL hockey. How many blown calls were there in the ot? Actually, its too bad…because this would have been a fitting end to the cup final. Embarrassing- lets just make believe it didn’t happen. Congratulations to the Kings.

I counted two blown calls for the Yotes, before a makeup on a borderline penalty. Then the linesman blew that offsides call on Doughty, and then they blew the Brown kneeing penalty, which at the very least should have been a minor.